SINGAPORE: Singapore today amended its constitution to make state investor Temasek Holdings a bigger contributor to the government's income to support its efforts to meet growing healthcare and infrastructure needs. The Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Bill will allow the government to include Temasek as a contributor to the Net Investment Returns (NIR) framework as Singapore seeks to make investments in healthcare, human capital and transport infrastructure in the coming years, Channel News Asia reported.

BENGALURU: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is planning to start an aerospace university with an initial investment of Rs 100 crore, its Chairman R K Tyagi today said. He said the aerospace sector lacked the much-needed skills to meet its current and future demands. "What we need is around 10 lakh skilled people, and we must get them as crores of investment would be made in India in next few years," Tyagi said. Speaking at the Second Aerospace HR Round Table , he said "HAL on its part is planning to create an aerospace university with an initial investment of Rs 100 crore.

MUMBAI: Union minister of State for HRD Shashi Tharoor said that liberalisation has helped the country and economic reforms will continue in spite of the difficulties in implementation. "Whatever you might say about the slowdown, economic reforms are here to stay... it's clear that liberalisation in a globalised world has changed the country irreversibly," said Tharoor, giving fourth M Visvesvaraya Memorial Lecture here. He acknowledged that sometimes political compulsions come in the way and it may take time for forming a consensus, but the process will go on. Asserting the government's commitment, he said insurance reforms are also on the anvil.

MUMBAI: Recently, the "CEO" addressed employees of ADP India , the captive unit of the $11-billion outsourcer. Unlike other times and other CEOs, this one was invited to handle queries on a different kind of target and business strategy. The "strategy" was to nudge employees into participating in an event that is potentially a turning point for the country's economy: the 16th Lok Sabha elections . The "target" was to encourage them to vote and provide clarity on the process of voting and making informed choices.

MUMBAI: Mahindra & Mahindra on Thursday announced its move to shift management of the loss making two wheeler business to its automotive and tractor businesses. The announcement closely follows its recent restructuring of its loss making trucks and buses business by merging it with its flagship tractors and utility vehicles businesses. Even as the management realignment was kicked off, M&M infused an additional equity worth Rs 180 crore into the company to beef up capital for its currently bleeding two wheeler business ahead.

This refers to the edit, 'Overcoming the skills crisis' (ET, Aug 17). The proposition of for-profit education, is too dangerous. It is one thing to run a company and another thing to run an educational institution. Instead of developing human capital they will develop financial capital. Scholarship, knowledge generation and discovery will then occupy the back seat and profit will become the focus. Privatisation of education has already created a cadre of education barons who do not understand the principles of education.

Our most valuable resources Land and buildings are the most valuable assets owned by Indians, find the National Sample Survey Organisation. By conventional standards, this is indisputable: of the total value of assets owned by households, land and buildings account for 87% in rural areas and 76% in urban areas. It is important, however, that people at large and policymakers in particular recognise that this is just one way of looking at assets.

NEW DELHI: US Ambassador to India Richard Verma today described Indian Muslims as "vital players" in advancing India and America's shared value and vision. Verma was addressing a town hall at the India Islamic Cultural Center (IICC), attended by country's leading Muslim entrepreneurs, scholars, and clerics. Noting that "the future of the US-India relationship depends on human capital," he said, "your perspectives and contributions are the key asset for its growth", according to a release by the US embassy here.

NEW DELHI: Homegrown farm equipment-to-IT major Mahindra & Mahindra has won the HR Excellence Award presented by Amity Group, recognising it as one of the most admired companies across the globe. The company was presented the award at the recently held fourth Amity Global HR Summit 2007 in the Amity International Business School, Noida. "As a diversified global conglomerate, Mahindra's human capital is its principal asset. The organisation's innovative HR practices in today's dynamic environment help it attract and retain the best available talent," Mahindra & Mahindra President (HR & Corporate Services)